The physical issues behind PFAS removal
In water treatment, most contaminants follow well-known rules. Metal may precipitate. Bacteria can also be sterilized. Organic contaminants can often be removed by breakdown or filtration. PFAS are different from most pollutants. Its unusual chemical properties make it useful in consumer products but also stubbornly difficult to remove from water. Over the past decade, the […]
Britain’s £2bn ‘quantum leap’ will benefit key industries
The UK has announced a new package of measures to become the first country in the world to deploy quantum computers at scale. The UK will be the first country to benefit from innovative quantum computers, sensors and networks, supporting the emergence of the next generation of leading UK companies that will help shape the […]
Passwords are disappearing and biometrics will replace them
For decades, passwords have been the gateway to the digital world. From email accounts to bank logins to corporate networks, strings have served as the first line of defense against cyber intruders. But passwords always have inherent weaknesses. That is, passwords rely on human behavior. People reuse them, choose the easy ones, write them down, […]
Putting the North East of England on the UK space map
The building, located in the heart of Newcastle and overlooking the city’s central motorway, is being transformed with a clear ambition to place the North East firmly within the UK’s growing space economy. The North East Space Technology and Technology Center (NESST), being developed by Northumbria University, is a £50m investment aimed at bringing together […]
UK unveils £45m Sunrise AI supercomputer to accelerate nuclear fusion
The industry-changing system aims to put the UK at the forefront of AI-driven clean energy innovation. The UK Government has committed £45 million to the development of a new 1.4MW AI supercomputer designed to support fusion energy research, taking a significant step in integrating artificial intelligence and advanced scientific infrastructure. The system, called Sunrise, will […]
EU adopts new state aid rules to promote sustainable transport
This means it is now significantly easier, faster and cheaper for EU countries to invest in sustainable transport to move people and goods. The new rules replace the 2008 Guidelines on State Aid for Railway Operations and establish a consistent state aid framework that covers a wide range of sustainable transport options and assistance measures. […]
BWXT and ORNL partner to promote U.S. uranium enrichment
BWX Technologies and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have formally entered into a partnership aimed at increasing domestic uranium enrichment capabilities for defense purposes. The two organizations recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining cooperation on the domestic uranium enrichment centrifuge experiment, commonly known as DUECE. This initiative supports the Department of Energy’s broader […]
Researchers detect dry ice in planetary nebula for the first time
Astronomers used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to observe dry ice inside a complex planetary nebula known as NGC 6302. This is the first time that dry ice has been observed inside a planetary nebula. A planetary nebula (PNe) is an expanded shell of gas and dust ejected from a star during its evolution […]
Edinburgh researchers convert plastic waste into L-DOPA
Researchers have demonstrated a new method to produce L-dopa, which is widely used as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, by using engineered bacteria to convert discarded plastic bottles into a pharmaceutical compound. The method, developed by scientists at the University of Edinburgh, uses genetically engineered E. coli bacteria to convert ingredients from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), […]
Government to work ‘even faster’ on UK energy security
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has outlined measures to pursue national energy security following events in the Middle East. The accelerated package of energy interventions to strengthen the UK’s energy security includes plug-in solar power, renewable energy investment and nuclear infrastructure. Ed Miliband said: “Global events show there is no time to waste in our […]